The Michigan–Michigan State soccer rivalry is an American college soccer rivalry between the University of MichiganWolverines and Michigan State UniversitySpartans. The winner of each year's game receives the Big Bear Trophy. The first game was played October 13, 1956 which saw the Spartans defeat the Wolverine club team 3-1 in East Lansing.
In 2000, Michigan added soccer as a Varsity sport and on October 15, 2000, the rivalry between the varsity club officially began with the Spartans winning 2-1 in double overtime in East Lansing. The trophy originated in 2000 when Michigan head coach Steve Burns purchased the wooden-bear sculpture to commemorate the revival of the rivalry.[4] Burns said that he and Michigan State head coach Joe Baum collaborated on a trophy game because they "wanted to have some kind of trophy for this rivalry that the teams can pass back and forth. We hope that it takes a life on its own."[5] The Spartans dominated the series prior to 2000 with an 18-1-4 record against Michigan's club team.[6]
